Heroes vs Warlords
from UGG
He was proud! His King, one of the finest knights to ever walk the surface of Pangea, had chosen him to scout ahead. The King’s huge army was somewhere behind him. He, and some other scouts, had been sent ahead to recon the way. Other men, like him, were on his right and left. They were out of sight, but he knew they were there. They each had a sector to investigate. To see what the land looked like. To find out if there were any obstacles that needed to be cleared or that would need the army to change formation to pass through in a safe manner. Or to be ready for battle...
Standing near the top of the hill he squinted his eyes to try and see more details. The sun was directly ahead of him. The plain looked empty, beyond it he spotted some woods. Further ahead he could see the tops of a mountain range. He slowly scanned from left to right, taking in the details of the land. This was what he had been trained for, this is what he liked to do. He was no veteran scout, but the old hands had shown him the trick of the trade. And the King had personally given him this task. What would his mom...
The last thing that his brain might have registered was the sudden swoosh of an arrow that pierced his neck. He was dead before he hit the ground.
She had been lying in wait for two days. Rumor had it that the King was moving his huge army across the land. Like the Amazons, he wanted to explore Pangea for its riches and treasures. Resources like wood and stone were found in many places, but what about gold and crystals. And they knew there was more. But the Guards would need to be defeated before it was possible to use them. They were a tough bunch, but could be defeated with skill. She had also heard about the Necromancers. A chill went down her spine thinking of them. Luckily she had not encountered them... yet...
A sudden movement on the hill drew her attention. There was a lone figure near the top of that hill. Very slowly she maneuvered her body in a position to draw her bow and place the arrow. Inch by inch she moved into a good position. He was cautious, so someone who had been trained for this. A scout! This could only mean that the King’s army was on the move. They had been right! She was a bit to the side of him. She was convinced that he would pay more attention to his front, staring ahead into the sun, than just a bit to the side. Experience paid off this time. At the right moment she released the string and the arrow went flying. He went down. Now she had to move away and warn her people of what was coming their way.
When he entered the tavern, all eyes turned on him. But next they moved away again, the visitors continuing there banter, game or drunken brawl. The first reaction confirmed his expectation. Tension was in the air. It was not present all the time, but in certain situations it turned up where it never had been before. Yes, his stature, that of a mighty warrior, did make heads turn. But he was also a trader and some of his clients were here too. He took a seat in a quiet corner and ordered a beer and some meat an vegetables. He was hungry.
Looking around he saw a guy with a red beard and a deep scar across his nose. Yep, he would not forget me lightly, he thought. At the bar there was an old man, drinking some wine from a goblet. He liked him, since the man had many great stories to tell. His grey hair and stooped posture hid a man that had lived a good life and saw many an adventure.
It was a hooded figure, sitting near the window that made him nervous. He wasn’t sure, but it looked like a woman. The way in which she had positioned herself, and a lock of golden hair visible beneath her cloak, confirmed that she had to be an Amazon. What was she doing here?
He had heard rumors about the knight’s moving a big army towards Amazon territory. He had also heard that one of the King’s scouts was killed. From what he had heard it must have been an Amazon’s arrow that hit the mark.
In the dark recesses of the woods his body, or what used to be a body, went from tree to tree. He barely saw what happened on the plain and hill. He saw this figure go down and another figure retreating slowly in order not to draw any unnecessary attention. An Amazon! Clever broads, he thought. His undead body tried to follow the Amazon while she moved away. But all of a sudden she was gone. Out of sight. He nervously looked around, but did not see anybody or anything. Oh, if only my eyes were somewhat better, he thought. But what he had seen, filled him with joy. War between the Knights and Amazons was becoming more likely by the minute. If the knights found the dead body on the hill, they would be out for revenge. A pity he could not get to the dead body first. It could fill another gap in the ranks. War would mean more dead bodies, and enemies that would grow weaker with each encounter. When his enemies had weakened themselves he could strike! Necromancy would allow them to raise the dead and create new units, increasing the strength of his armies. Oh, the joy of it!
Since nothing more could be seen on the plain or hill he went back into the camp. He went inside his tent, his guards shutting the flaps behind him. He unfolded the map and started to study it. He knew about the plain next to the woods, he had seen the hills. The mountain range was behind him.
But what was behind the hills and to the sides of the woods. He had no idea. Treasures he hoped, resources to build more weapons. At the same time the King got the bad news. One of his scouts, a promising young man, was found dead. An arrow sticking from his throat. Such a waste, but the Amazons would pay for this! She entered the camp and brought the latest gossip that she had picked up in a tavern. News of the advance of the King’s army had reached the town. Yes, he thought, when he saw her slip away through a side door. Tensions are rising. War is in the air!
He was proud! His King, one of the finest knights to ever walk the surface of Pangea, had chosen him to scout ahead. The King’s huge army was somewhere behind him. He, and some other scouts, had been sent ahead to recon the way. Other men, like him, were on his right and left. They were out of sight, but he knew they were there. They each had a sector to investigate. To see what the land looked like. To find out if there were any obstacles that needed to be cleared or that would need the army to change formation to pass through in a safe manner. Or to be ready for battle...
Standing near the top of the hill he squinted his eyes to try and see more details. The sun was directly ahead of him. The plain looked empty, beyond it he spotted some woods. Further ahead he could see the tops of a mountain range. He slowly scanned from left to right, taking in the details of the land. This was what he had been trained for, this is what he liked to do. He was no veteran scout, but the old hands had shown him the trick of the trade. And the King had personally given him this task. What would his mom...
The last thing that his brain might have registered was the sudden swoosh of an arrow that pierced his neck. He was dead before he hit the ground.
She had been lying in wait for two days. Rumor had it that the King was moving his huge army across the land. Like the Amazons, he wanted to explore Pangea for its riches and treasures. Resources like wood and stone were found in many places, but what about gold and crystals. And they knew there was more. But the Guards would need to be defeated before it was possible to use them. They were a tough bunch, but could be defeated with skill. She had also heard about the Necromancers. A chill went down her spine thinking of them. Luckily she had not encountered them... yet...
A sudden movement on the hill drew her attention. There was a lone figure near the top of that hill. Very slowly she maneuvered her body in a position to draw her bow and place the arrow. Inch by inch she moved into a good position. He was cautious, so someone who had been trained for this. A scout! This could only mean that the King’s army was on the move. They had been right! She was a bit to the side of him. She was convinced that he would pay more attention to his front, staring ahead into the sun, than just a bit to the side. Experience paid off this time. At the right moment she released the string and the arrow went flying. He went down. Now she had to move away and warn her people of what was coming their way.
When he entered the tavern, all eyes turned on him. But next they moved away again, the visitors continuing there banter, game or drunken brawl. The first reaction confirmed his expectation. Tension was in the air. It was not present all the time, but in certain situations it turned up where it never had been before. Yes, his stature, that of a mighty warrior, did make heads turn. But he was also a trader and some of his clients were here too. He took a seat in a quiet corner and ordered a beer and some meat an vegetables. He was hungry.
Looking around he saw a guy with a red beard and a deep scar across his nose. Yep, he would not forget me lightly, he thought. At the bar there was an old man, drinking some wine from a goblet. He liked him, since the man had many great stories to tell. His grey hair and stooped posture hid a man that had lived a good life and saw many an adventure.
It was a hooded figure, sitting near the window that made him nervous. He wasn’t sure, but it looked like a woman. The way in which she had positioned herself, and a lock of golden hair visible beneath her cloak, confirmed that she had to be an Amazon. What was she doing here?
He had heard rumors about the knight’s moving a big army towards Amazon territory. He had also heard that one of the King’s scouts was killed. From what he had heard it must have been an Amazon’s arrow that hit the mark.
In the dark recesses of the woods his body, or what used to be a body, went from tree to tree. He barely saw what happened on the plain and hill. He saw this figure go down and another figure retreating slowly in order not to draw any unnecessary attention. An Amazon! Clever broads, he thought. His undead body tried to follow the Amazon while she moved away. But all of a sudden she was gone. Out of sight. He nervously looked around, but did not see anybody or anything. Oh, if only my eyes were somewhat better, he thought. But what he had seen, filled him with joy. War between the Knights and Amazons was becoming more likely by the minute. If the knights found the dead body on the hill, they would be out for revenge. A pity he could not get to the dead body first. It could fill another gap in the ranks. War would mean more dead bodies, and enemies that would grow weaker with each encounter. When his enemies had weakened themselves he could strike! Necromancy would allow them to raise the dead and create new units, increasing the strength of his armies. Oh, the joy of it!
Since nothing more could be seen on the plain or hill he went back into the camp. He went inside his tent, his guards shutting the flaps behind him. He unfolded the map and started to study it. He knew about the plain next to the woods, he had seen the hills. The mountain range was behind him.
But what was behind the hills and to the sides of the woods. He had no idea. Treasures he hoped, resources to build more weapons. At the same time the King got the bad news. One of his scouts, a promising young man, was found dead. An arrow sticking from his throat. Such a waste, but the Amazons would pay for this! She entered the camp and brought the latest gossip that she had picked up in a tavern. News of the advance of the King’s army had reached the town. Yes, he thought, when he saw her slip away through a side door. Tensions are rising. War is in the air!